An electric mobility lift can go by many different names, including stair chair lift. These stairway chair lifts have been adapted for home use and have become standard equipment for disabled people. To be clear, a stair chair lift is the same thing as a home stair lift, stairway chair lift, or an electric stair lift.

These stairway lifts allow disabled people to move from one level of their home to another without assistance, increasing their mobility and allowing them to be more independent. Stairs can be a big obstacle to physically disabled and challenged people who have difficulty walking; luckily, it is possible to purchase stair lifts to tackle steps with. For many physically challenged people, simple things like climbing stairs can be so demanding that it drains all of their energy, or so hard that they simply cannot do it.  Likewise, an electric stair chair lift can give caregivers peace of mind that their loved ones will be able to safely negotiate the stairs in their home. Many worry needlessly about the person in their care when they cannot always be around, and stairs are often the cause for concern because they represent a large percentage of home injuries. A home stair lift can be installed fast by a knowledgeable contractor, and is a great investment to ease concern and allow disabled people to have a safer and more enjoyable home life.

The Stair Chair Lift

Stair lifts come in many different models from a number of manufacturers. You should be sure to do some research on the different models and manufacturers before deciding on the right one. You can typically find out much of what you need to know about the different choices by reading the manufacturer’s brochures and websites and comparing the models you are considering. Some of the well known manufacturers include:

• Bruno Chair Lifts
• Acorn Stairlifts
• Stannah Stairlift
• ThyssenKrupp Access Stairway Chair lifts

Some of the chair lifts have swivel stools that the user will sit on and others have flat shelves which the user stands on, or even rolls their wheelchair onto (called wheelchair platform lifts). Most of the later models have remote controls instead of wall mounted controls for convenience, and operate on ordinary household electricity. A lever or button activates the lift and moves it up or down on its track which is typically mounted to the wall along the stairs. The controls generally come with the stair lifts and are either hand held or mounted on the wall next to the lift.

In addition to the wall mounted used stair lifts that most people are familiar with, there are also models which are mounted to the ceiling, and even totally free standing lifts, which are often used to conquer the steps up to a porch on a home’s exterior.

Always Consult An Expert

There are a lot of questions you might have, and manufacturer’s representatives or customer service people can give you the answers you’re looking for. You can use manufacturers to get the following information:

• Information about financing.
• They can help you find a local installer for your lift.
• Also ask them any questions you have about the specific features of the stair lifts, like the difference between an A/C powered lift and a battery powered one.
• They can also tell you about their customer’s experiences with particular brands and models.
• And perhaps even provide you with testimonials from them.

A big question that many people have is which company makes the best stair lift. The answer to that question, it depends on the use you’ll give it, and the length of the staircase, as well as the weight of the user. A good idea is to talk to the experts near you and get their opinion as to which stair lift would be best for your situation. Some of the overall top brands include Bruno, Invacare and ThyssenKrupp Access.

Pricing Concerns

Purchasing a home stair chair lift is a big decision. Like most people, concern about the costs of the stair lift can delay your purchase. However, in comparison to remodeling, or moving to either an assisted living center or another house, they are relatively inexpensive. Not to mention the fact that many disabled people don’t want to feel completely uprooted due to their lack of mobility. Also, people are becoming more aware of the products that are available to help people remain independent, and this is attracting new manufacturers to the industry. In addition charity organizations are getting involved which help provide support for physically challenged. These things have combined help to make wheel chair stair lifts easier and less cost prohibitive than ever.

Used Stair Lifts

Managing stairs with the help of all the new technology available doesn’t have to be extremely expensive, thanks to the availability of used stair lifts. Stair lifts enable those with physical challenges to become more independent and be able to reach different levels of their home. However, brand new stair lifts can be quite expensive and beyond the means of some people with physical handicaps. Used stair lifts are available that are similar to many of the newest models on the market, in a variety of different styles.

In addition to the high cost of purchasing a brand new stair lift or stair chair lift, the installation costs can be exorbitant as well. Used stair lifts can be found in plenty of places nowadays, even on EBay and Craigslist, and in retail and online stores which sell used mobility equipment. Many times they have been used for a short period of time or have been previously rented to someone. However, the market value of these devices depreciates quickly, so the second owner can often find the biggest bargain.

Once it is determined that a stair lift is needed, a great source of information can be the companies which manufacture and sell brand new equipment of this type. They can often tell you which models and types are most durable and dependable, as well as giving you some tips about the companies in your area that might sell, repair, and install used stair lifts. It also helps if you compare prices from each company so that you’ll know which are the higher end and should command a higher price on the pre-owned market as well. They will also give you brochures about their products so that you’ll have an idea of the features of each of the types and brands so that the proper type is chosen.

Different Types of Stair Chair Lifts

There are four different types of stair chair lifts that have improved over the years which started in the 1930′s and was installed in private dwellings who had straight stairs where a disabled person was living. The process of making a straight stairlift was simple and practical back then and was connected to the 100 volts from the residence electricity board. Straight starlifts are usually cheaper than any customized stair lift as the only variable between the different installations is the actual length of the track.

But there are three other different variations and they are:

Wheelchair stair lift

• Electric stair lift

• Curved stair lift

• Vertical platform lift

Most of the domestic stair lifts are specifically made for residential use for single or double flights of stairs and they all have similar working parts as it of taking a wheelchair or having a seat available to sit on. Unlike the first generation chair lifts the new stair chair lifts include some additional features like adjustable carrier seat height.

They also include some key features:

• Pressure sensitive safety surfaces

• Call stations

• Flip railings

• Key switch

• Foldable foot rests

• Speed regulator

• Seat belt

• Soft start and stop

The slim line design allows you to fold away the chair and gives a clean and neat look to the device. The pressure sensitive safety features will ensure that all users are in safe hands and giving you a smooth and safe ride to the top of the stairs.

The Materials Used On Different Types Of Stair Chair Lifts

Most of the materials used in the manufacture of these stair chair lifts are either steel or aluminum and they also have strong metal cleats to take the shape of the winding or straight stairs.
Curved railings are versatile in taking on various designs with the objective of giving the curves the smallest possible radius in order to save space, but at the same time being able to meet safety compliance. The railings used for the wheelchair platform lifts are both secured to the walls as well as the stair fittings.

Obviously if you have a simple straight stairway then it will be a lot less expensive than if you required a customized design with specific requirements. You should expect to pay between $3000 and $5000 for a straight single flight of stairs, but you should expect to pay a lot more than that if you need specific customization.

Having Cost Coverage

Although it is certainly not common for Medicare to pay for the stairlift in your home under certain situations partial coverage can be obtained and you will be advised to check it out with your insurance advisor. But although you may not be covered by Medicare insurance there are other alternatives and ways of getting low cost funding for a stairlift by taking advantage of grants or a dealers financial packages that they offer.

There are many different kinds of designs that you can choose from if you have a curved staircase and need a customized design. For example the seat of a curved rail stairlift may have a tilt to it so that it remains horizontal when you are going around curves and negotiating different angles of the incline.